Automated external defibrillator and method for displaying state of automated external defibrillator

ABSTRACT

An automated external defibrillator includes: a self-test executor that executes a self-test for checking a state of the automated external defibrillator; and a display unit that indicates the state of the automated external defibrillator. The display unit makes: a first display when the automated external defibrillator is in a normal state; a second display when the automated external defibrillator is in an abnormal state, and the first display and the second display simultaneously or in a predetermined pattern when the automated external defibrillator is self-testing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an automated external defibrillatorand a method for displaying a state of the automated externaldefibrillator.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, automated external defibrillators (hereinafter alsoabbreviated to AEDs) are mounted with self-test functions. In such aself-test, for example, a remaining level of a battery, a connectionstate with a defibrillation pad, whether various circuits operatenormally or not, etc. are checked so that it is determined whether theAED can be used normally or not.

It is general that a result of the self-test is indicated by apredetermined indicator. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses anAED that notifies a user of a result of a self-test in such a mannerthat the AED turns on a green LED (Light Emitting Diode) when there isno problem in the result of the self-test, or turns on a red LED when amalfunction or the like has been found by the self-test.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: JP-A-2018-134447

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, Patent Literature 1 does not disclose a method for indicatingthat the AED is self-testing. Even if the state in which the AEDdisclosed in Patent Literature 1 is self-testing is indicated by turningon the red LED, the case where the AED is self-testing and the casewhere the malfunction has occurred in the AED cannot be distinguishedfrom each other.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an automated externaldefibrillator that can notify a user of a case where the automatedexternal defibrillator is normal, a case where abnormality such as amalfunction has occurred in the automated external defibrillator, and acase where the automated external defibrillator is self-testing indiscriminable modes respectively, and a method for displaying a state ofthe automated external defibrillator.

Solution to Problem

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is providedan automated external defibrillator including:

a self-test executor that executes a self-test for checking a state ofthe automated external defibrillator; and

a display unit that indicates the state of the automated externaldefibrillator, wherein the display unit

-   -   makes a first display when the automated external defibrillator        is in a normal state,    -   makes a second display when the automated external defibrillator        is in an abnormal state, and    -   makes the first display and the second display simultaneously or        in a predetermined pattern when the automated external        defibrillator is self-testing.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a method for displaying a state of an automated externaldefibrillator, the method making the automated external defibrillatorperform

an execution step of executing a self-test for checking the state of theautomated external defibrillator; and

a display step of indicating the state of the automated externaldefibrillator; wherein: the display step includes

-   -   a first display step of making a first display when the        automated external defibrillator is in a normal state,    -   a second display step of making a second display when the        automated external defibrillator is in an abnormal state, and    -   a third display step of making the first display and the second        display simultaneously or in a predetermined pattern when the        automated external defibrillator is self-testing.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to notifya user of the case where the automated external defibrillator is normal,the case where abnormality such as a malfunction has occurred in theautomated external defibrillator, and the case where the automatedexternal defibrillator is self-testing in discriminable modesrespectively. More specifically, a mode in which the first display andthe second display are displayed simultaneously or in the predeterminedpattern is set as a third kind of display mode in addition to the twokinds of display modes, i.e. the first display and the second display.Thus, the two kinds of display modes, i.e. the first display and thesecond display, can be used to notify the user of the three kinds ofstates, i.e. the normal state, the abnormal state and the self-testingstate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofan automated external defibrillator according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view schematically illustrating an example of aconfiguration of an external appearance of the automated externaldefibrillator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of displaymodes of an indicator. FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a first displaymode, FIG. 3B illustrates an example of a second display mode, FIG. 3Cillustrates an example of a third display mode, and FIG. 3D illustratesanother example of the third display mode.

FIG. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of displaymodes of an indicator different from that in the examples of FIGS. 3A to3D when the indicator is used. FIG. 4A illustrates an example of a thirddisplay mode, and FIG. 4B illustrates another example of the thirddisplay mode.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below by wayof example with reference to the drawings. In the following description,identical or equivalent elements will be designated by the samereference signs or names correspondingly and respectively even indifferent drawings, and duplicate description thereof will be thereforeomitted appropriately.

First, respective processors constituting an AED 1 will be describedusing FIG. 1 . FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of aconfiguration of the AED 1 according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The AED 1 is provided with a controller 10, a memory 20, anoperation accepter 30, a display unit 40, a sounder 50, a high voltagegenerator 60, a pad connector 70 and a power supply 80.

The controller 10 reads and executes a program etc. stored in the memory20 to control various actions of the AED 1. The controller 10 caninclude a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memorysuch as an ROM (Read Only Memory) or an RAM (Random Access Memory), areal time clock, an A/D converter, etc.

The controller 10 controls various actions for life rescue (hereinafteralso referred to as “life rescue actions”) such as energycharging/discharging control, sequence control, A/D conversion, andelectrocardiogram analysis. In addition, the controller 10 controlsexecution of a self-test of the AED 1. That is, the controller 10functions also as a self-test executor. The self-test may be executedwhen a setting time instant set in advance came, or when the operationacceptor 30 has accepted a predetermined operation input (e.g. a checkbutton 32 which will be described later has been pressed down).

In the self-test, for example, the controller 10 performs check ofcircuits for controlling life rescue actions (such as confirmation of atime constant of an electrocardiogram input circuit, confirmation of acircuit recognizing paddle contact, and confirmation of an energy valueduring charging into a capacitor/during internal discharging), check ofthe power supply 80 (such as a voltage value, a remaining value of abattery, and a value of current consumption), check of a defibrillationpad 90 connected to the pad connector 70 (such as a resistance value ofthe pad and confirmation of expiry date for use), etc. to confirmwhether they are normal or abnormal. A result of the self-test (i.e. theAED 1 is in a normal state or an abnormal state) is displayed on anindicator 41 which will be described later. In addition, even duringexecution of the self-test, display for notifying a user of theexecution of the self-test can be made on the indicator 41.

The memory 20 stores a necessary program for action of the AED, audiodata, an adjustment value, electrocardiogram data during the liferescue, the result of the self-test, etc. The memory 20 may include, forexample, a secondary memory device such as a hard disk. A part of thememory 20 may be an external memory device that can be detachablyattached to the AED 1.

The operation accepter 30 accepts an operation input from the user. Theoperation accepter 30 includes a power button 31 and the check button32. The power button 31 is a button for starting a life rescue action.The check button 32 is a button for starting a self-test. In addition,although not illustrated, the operation accepter 30 may be provided witha shock button for executing an electric shock, a button for setting asetting time instant of the self-test, etc.

The display unit 40 includes the indicator 41 and a display 43. Theindicator 41 displays a state of the AED 1. When the AED 1 is in anormal state, the indicator 41 makes a first display as a first displaymode. In addition, when the AED 1 is in an abnormal state, the indicator41 makes a second display as a second display mode. In addition, whenthe AED 1 is self-testing, the indicator 41 makes the first display andthe second display simultaneously or in a predetermined pattern as athird display mode. Here, the “predetermined pattern” is not limited aslong as the pattern uses both the first display and the second display.The “predetermined pattern” may be, for example, a pattern in which oneor more times of the first display and one or more times of the seconddisplay are made alternately. Specifically, the “predetermined pattern”may be a pattern in which the first display and the second display aremade alternately and once at a time, or a pattern in which one of thefirst display and the second display made once and the other of thefirst display and the second display continuously made a plurality oftimes are repeated alternately, or a pattern in which the first displaycontinuously made a plurality of times and the second displaycontinuously made a plurality of times are repeated alternatively. Inaddition, the number of times of the first display and the number oftimes of the second display in the predetermined pattern does not haveto be constant. The pattern may be, for example, a pattern in which thefirst display is made once, the second display is then made twice, thefirst display is then made twice, and the second display is then madethree times.

The indicator 41 includes a first light source 42 a and a second lightsource 42 b. The first display is to, for example, turn on the firstlight source 42 a to thereby display a first color (such as a greencolor or a blue color). The second display is to, for example, turn onthe second light source 42 b to thereby display a second color (such asa red color or a yellow color) different from the first color. When thefirst display and the second display are made simultaneously, forexample, the first color and the second color are displayedsimultaneously at separate places on the indicator 41 or a mixed colorof the first color and the second color is displayed on the indicator41. In addition, when the first display and the second display are madealternately, for example, the first color and the second color aredisplayed alternately on the indicator 41. Specific examples of thesedisplay modes will be described in detail in the following paragraphs byuse of FIGS. 3A to 3D and FIGS. 4A and 4B.

It is preferable that the first light source 42 a and the second lightsource 42 b are LED light sources. The first light source 42 a may be anLED light source which can emit light of the first color singly or maybe an LED light source which can emit light of the first color incombination with a fluorescent substance. Similarly, the second lightsource 42 b may be an LED light source which can emit light of thesecond color singly or may be an LED light source which can emit lightof the second color in combination with a fluorescent substance. Inaddition, the indicator 41 may be provided with RGB light sourcesconstituted by the first light source 42 a, the second light source 42b, and a third light source (not illustrated). In this case, each of thefirst color and the second color may be a single color selected fromRGB, or a mixed color formed by controlling an output ratio among theRGB light sources.

Incidentally, the indicator 41 may be provided with a magnetic reversaldisk in place of the first light source 42 a and the second light source42 b. In this case, when the AED 1 is normal, one face of the magneticreversal disk is displayed (first display) as a first display mode. Inaddition, when the AED 1 is abnormal, the other face of the magneticreversal disk is displayed (second display) as a second display mode. Inaddition, when the AED 1 is self-testing, the face and the other face ofthe magnetic reversal disk are displayed alternately as a third displaymode.

The display 43 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The display 43displays an instruction to the user as a figure or characters ordisplays an electrocardiogram signal. The display 43 may be providedwith a touch panel or may function also as the operation accepter 30.Incidentally, according to another configuration, which is not providedwith the display 43 in order to miniaturize a housing of the AED 1, aninstruction or information presentation to the user may be performed byvarious indicators or a speaker.

The sounder 50 issues various instructions to the user by voice withreference to the audio data stored in the memory 20. In addition, whenabnormality has been found due to the self-test, the sounder 50 emits awarning sound to notify the user of the abnormality.

The high voltage generator 60 carries out charging and discharging ofenergy used for defibrillation in accordance with a control signal fromthe controller 10. The pad connector 70 is connected to thedefibrillation pad 90. The energy discharged by the high voltagegenerator 60 is transmitted to a person in need for rescue through thepad connector 70 and the defibrillation pad 90. In addition, thedefibrillation pad 90 fetches an electrocardiogram signal of the personin need for rescue. The electrocardiogram signal is, for example,filtered and amplified before being transmitted to the controller 10.

The power supply 80 includes the battery. The power supply 80 convertselectric power supplied from the battery into a required voltage, andsupplies the electric power to the aforementioned processors. Theremaining level of the battery is confirmed by the self-test.

Next, a configuration of an external appearance of the AED 1 accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described by use ofFIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a top view schematically illustrating an example ofthe configuration of the external appearance of the AED 1. The AED 1 issubstantially shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped. The power button31, the check button 32, the indicator 41 and the display 43 areprovided in an upper face of the AED 1. In addition, although notillustrated, the AED 1 may be provided with components (such as theshock button) other than these components. The position or size of eachof the components is not limited particularly and can be suitablydetermined based on various viewpoints.

The indicator 41 includes the first light source 42 a and the secondlight source 42 b internally. Since the indicator 41 indicates that theAED 1 is self-testing or the result of the self-test, the indicator 41is preferably disposed in the vicinity of the check button 32.

Various display modes displayed on the indicator 41, i.e. a method fordisplaying the state of the AED 1 will be described below in detail byuse of FIGS. 3A to 3D and FIGS. 4A and 4B. The AED 1 performs anexecution step of executing a self-test by the controller 10, and adisplay step of indicating the state of the AED 1 (whether the AED 1 isabnormal or not by the self-test) by use of the indicator 41. Thedisplay step includes a first display step of making a first displaywhen the AED 1 is in a normal state, a second display step of making asecond display when the AED 1 is in an abnormal state, and a thirddisplay step of making the first display and the second displaysimultaneously or in a predetermined pattern when the AED 1 isself-testing.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of displaymodes of the indicator 41. FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a firstdisplay mode. In FIG. 3A, a first display P1 is displayed inside a frameof the indicator 41. The first display P1 is display of a first colorthat is, for example, attained by turning on the first light source 42a. When it is determined that the AED 1 is normal based on theself-test, the first display P1 is displayed on the indicator 41 as thefirst display step for a predetermined time (e.g. five seconds) afterthe self-test or in a period until a next self-test is executed afterthe self-test.

FIG. 3B illustrates an example of a second display mode. In FIG. 3B, asecond display P2 is displayed inside the frame of the indicator 41. Thesecond display P2 is display of a second color that is, for example,attained by turning on the second light source 42 b. When it isdetermined that the AED 1 is abnormal based on the self-test, the seconddisplay P2 is displayed in the indicator 41 as the second display stepfor a predetermined time (e.g. five seconds) after the self-test, in aperiod until a next self-test is executed after the self-test, or in aperiod until the abnormality is cancelled.

FIG. 3C illustrates an example of a third display mode. In FIG. 3C, boththe first display P1 and the second display P2 are displayedsimultaneously inside the frame of the indicator 41. That is, a mixedcolor of the first color and the second color is displayed inside theframe of the indicator 41.

FIG. 3D illustrates another example of the third display mode. In FIG.3D, the first display P1 and the second display P2 are displayed in apredetermined pattern inside the frame of the indicator 41.Specifically, the first color and the second color are lit alternatelyinside the frame of the indicator 41. It is preferable that eachlighting time of the first color and each lighting time of the secondcolor in the third display step are shorter than the lighting time ofthe first color in the first display step and the lighting time of thesecond color in the second display step respectively. Each lighting timeof the first color and each light time of the second color in the thirddisplay step may be, for example, 0.5 seconds or 0.2 seconds. When athird color can be displayed inside the indicator 41, the first to thirdcolors may be lit in turn. Display illustrated in of FIG. 3C or 3D canbe made as the third display step in a period from starting theself-test until displaying the result of the self-test.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of displaymodes of an indicator 141 different from that in the examples of FIGS.3A to 3D in a case where the indicator 141 is used. The indicator 141includes a first indicator 141 a and a second indicator 141 b. The firstindicator 141 a includes the first light source 42 a internally. Thesecond indicator 141 b includes the second light source 42 b internally.The positions of the first indicator 141 a and the second indicator 141b are not limited particularly. However, it is preferable that the firstindicator 141 a and the second indicator 141 b are positioned adjacentlyto each other. The first indicator 141 a and the second indicator 141 bmay be positioned inside one and the same frame.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example of the third display mode in the casewhere the indicator 141 is used. In FIG. 4A, a first display P1 isdisplayed inside a frame of the first indicator 141 a. In addition, asecond display P2 is displayed inside a frame of the second indicator141 b. That is, in the example of FIG. 4A, the first display P1 and thesecond display P2 are displayed simultaneously at different places.

FIG. 4B illustrates another example of the third display mode in thecase where the indicator 141 is used. In the example of FIG. 4B, a stateillustrated on a left side of FIG. 4B and a state illustrated on a rightside of FIG. 4B are repeated alternately. Specifically, a state in whichthe first display P1 is displayed inside the frame of the firstindicator 141 a and the inside of the frame of the second indicator 141b is in an extinguished state P3 (a state in which a light source isturned off), a state in which the inside of the frame of the firstindicator 141 a is in the extinguished state P3 and the second displayP2 is displayed inside the frame of the second indicator 141 b arerepeated alternately. The display illustrated in FIG. 4A or 4B can bedisplayed as the third display step in a period from starting theself-test until displaying the result of the self-test.

Incidentally, in the case where the indicator 141 is used, the stateillustrated on the left side of the FIG. 4B is the first display state,i.e. a state in which the first display step is being executed. Inaddition, the state illustrated on the right side of FIG. 4B is thesecond display state, i.e. a state in which the second display step isbeing executed.

Successively, effects that can be obtained by the respectiveconstituents included in the

AED 1 and the method for displaying the state of the AED 1 according tothe present embodiment will be described.

The AED 1 makes the first display when the AED 1 is in a normal state,makes the second display when the AED 1 is in an abnormal state, andmakes the first display and the second display simultaneously or in apredetermined pattern when the AED 1 is self-testing. Thus, the user candiscriminate the three kinds of states of the AED 1 from one another. Inaddition, the three kinds of display modes can be realized by the twokinds of displays, i.e. the first display and the second display,thereby contributing to cost reduction.

In addition, the first display P1 is set to turn on the first lightsource 42 a to thereby display the first color on the display unit 40(the indicator 41), and the second display P2 is set to turn on thesecond light source 42 b to thereby display the second color differentfrom the first color on the display unit 40 (the indicator 41). Thus,the user can be notified of the respective states of the AED 1 simplyand briefly.

In addition, due to the first light source 42 a and the second lightsource 42 b that are formed as the LED light sources, suppression ofpower consumption, elongation of the life of each of the light sources,and miniaturization of the display unit can be realized easily.

The AED 1 has a configuration in which a plurality of colors includingat least the first color and the second color are displayed in turn inthe case where the AED 1 is self-testing. Thus, a failure in turning onthe first light source or the second light source can be detected. When,for example, the self-test is executed in a situation that the secondlight source 42 b cannot be turned on, the second color is not lit afterthe first color is lit, but the first color is then lit again.Therefore, the user can immediately notice the failure of the secondlight source 42 b. That is, the third display mode indicating that theAED 1 is self-testing is set as a mode in which the plurality of colorsincluding at least the first color and the second color are displayed inturn. Thus, it is also possible to check the action of the indicator 41while executing the self-test.

The length of each time of the first display made in the case where theAED 1 is self-testing is made shorter than the length of the time forwhich the first display is made in the case where the AED 1 is in thenormal state, and the length of each time of the second display made inthe case where the AED 1 is self-testing is made shorter than the lengthof the time for which the second display is made in the case where theAED 1 is in the abnormal state. Thus, the user can grasp the states ofAED 1 not only by the kinds of displays but also by the lighting timesof the first display and the second display.

The aforementioned embodiment is merely exemplary in order to make thepresently disclosed subject matter easy to understand. The configurationaccording to the aforementioned embodiment can be changed/improvedproperly without departing from the gist of the presently disclosedsubject matter. The present application is based on Japanese PatentApplication No. 2020-098725 filed on Jun. 5, 2020, the entire contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Reference Signs List

1: automated external defibrillator (AED)

10: controller (self-test executor)

20: memory

30: operation accepter

31: power button

32: check button

40: display unit

41, 141: indicator

42 a: first light source

42 b: second light source

43: display

50: sounder

60: high voltage generator

70: pad connector

80: power supply

90: defibrillation pad

1. An automated external defibrillator comprising: a self-test executorthat executes a self-test for checking a state of the automated externaldefibrillator; and a display unit that indicates the state of theautomated external defibrillator, wherein the display unit makes a firstdisplay when the automated external defibrillator is in a normal state,makes a second display when the automated external defibrillator is inan abnormal state, and makes the first display and the second displaysimultaneously or in a predetermined pattern when the automated externaldefibrillator is self-testing.
 2. An automated external defibrillatoraccording to claim 1, wherein the display unit has a first light sourceand a second light source, the first display is to turn on the firstlight source to thereby display a first color on the display unit, andthe second display is to turn on the second light source to therebydisplay a second color different from the first color on the displayunit.
 3. An automated external defibrillator according to claim 2,wherein each of the first light source and the second light source is anLED light source.
 4. An automated external defibrillator according toclaim 2, wherein the display unit displays colors including at least thefirst color and the second color in turn when the automated externaldefibrillator is self-testing.
 5. An automated external defibrillatoraccording to claim 1, wherein length of each time of the first displaymade when the automated external defibrillator is self-testing isshorter than length of a time for which the first display is made whenthe automated external defibrillator is in the normal state; and lengthof each time of the second display made when the automated externaldefibrillator is self-testing is shorter than length of a time for whichthe second display is made when the automated external defibrillator isin the abnormal state.
 6. A method for displaying a state of anautomated external defibrillator, the method making the automatedexternal defibrillator perform: an execution step of executing aself-test for checking the state of the automated externaldefibrillator; and a display step of indicating the state of theautomated external defibrillator, wherein the display step includes afirst display step of making a first display when the automated externaldefibrillator is in a normal state, a second display step of making asecond display when the automated external defibrillator is in anabnormal state, and a third display step of making the first display andthe second display simultaneously or in a predetermined pattern when theautomated external defibrillator is self-testing.
 7. An automatedexternal defibrillator comprising: circuitry configured to execute aself-test for checking a state of the automated external defibrillator;and an indicator configured to indicate the state, wherein the stateincludes: a normal state; an abnormal state; and a self-testing state,in which the self-test is being executed, and the indicator performs:first display when the state is the normal state; second display, whichis different from the first display, when the state is the abnormalstate; and third display, in which the first display and the seconddisplay are performed simultaneously or in a predetermined pattern, whenthe state is the self-testing state.